Burbank Extends Airport Land-Use Curbs for 2 Years

The Burbank City Council on Tuesday extended for nearly two years development restrictions on land around Burbank Airport, part of a plan to convert the area to cleaner industries.

By a unanimous vote, the council extended an interim development control ordinance passed in May to buy time for city planners to make permanent zoning changes and formulate a general plan for the 1,000-acre area, stretching roughly from the airport to the Golden State Freeway between Empire Avenue and Cohasset Street.

The ordinance affects nearly all of the 300 acres to be vacated by Lockheed Corp., which announced in May that it will pull much of its operation out of Burbank by the mid-1990s. The departure of other firms that are dependent on the aerospace giant for business may make even more land available.

City planners view the available land as an opportunity to re-create the northwestern corner of Burbank, which has been dominated by Lockheed since World War II.

Although many speakers at Tuesday night’s council meeting supported the goal of attracting cleaner industries, they urged a speedier decision on permanent planning changes.

Council members originally approved the ordinance on May 29 for 45 days. At the end of that time, they were required to extend it, amend it or discontinue it. Tuesday’s vote extended the ordinance to June, 1992, but requires a second review and vote by the council within six months.

Many residents and businesses--including Lockheed itself--have criticized the ordinance because it may frighten new firms out of locating in the area.

The ordinance requires new projects in the area to go through the planned development process, which includes hearings before the planning board and the City Council.

That way, city officials can manage development in the area while they create formal controls. Without the planned development process, projects inconsistent with the city’s plans theoretically could have slipped through, Community Development Director Bill Kelly said.

In response to tougher state and federal environmental laws, Burbank officials hope to phase out polluting heavy industries. Tentative plans call for a commercial center with retail outlets concentrated along the Golden State Freeway.

Lockheed spokesman Ross B. Hopkins said Tuesday that the ordinance “sends the wrong signal to the business community. It says Burbank is not interested in creating jobs and bringing revenue to the city.”